Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Hello!!! Welcome to Day 3 of the Gina K Designs previews. Tonight the design team is previewing these new sets--Winter Friends (Rupa Shevde) and Signed with Love (the new One Free with Three set).

Here is a slider card I created with Winter Friends:

REMOVED FOR PUBLICATION

The minute I saw this gliding penguin, I wanted to make a slider card with him. The little houses/scenery in the set make the perfect backdrop for this cutie.

Here is a another view---just to show you he made it to the other side ok! A slider card is perfect for this stamp because he can wobble and tilt all the way across your card (just like most of us ice skate!)

I stamped the scene on layers of pure luxury white cardstock. The card base is the new Tan Leather (which has some beautiful texture!) It will be available on Thursday night too. The ribbon on the top of the card is from the Gina K Autumn Ribbon Assortment. I framed the scene with some rocket red cardstock.

I colored all the images with Copic markers and added some frosted lace stickles on the rooftops, trees and hills.

The sliding mechanism was created using a Word Window punch (SU!) to create the path. I used some dimensionals (SU!) to create the sliding penguin. (I used one on the penguin's back and then one on the other side of the punched strip and then added a punched circle so that the tab wouldn't stick to the inside. Note: I never use a penny on my sliders because I don't like the added weight and find that this way works just fine!) The penguin slides and turns easily!

Our Release party will be held tomorrow night (Thursday!) over on SCS in GinaK's Forum from 7-10 pm CST. We'd love to have you join in the fun! There will be contest questions, challenges, chatter, and lots more samples from our designers throughout the party! See you then!

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Hello! First....just have to shout it from the rooftops----We have a working refrigerator!!!!!!! Hooray......I am NEVER taking that for granted again!

My other happy news---I got something done so I could participate in this hop! Tonight, the Gina K Design team is previewing two new WONDERMOUS sets, First Christmas and Vintage Borders. They are both beautiful sets and I am sure you will see lots of amazing creations with them on the hop.

I used the Cardinal stamp in First Christmas (by Asela Hopkins) and the peace sentiment from Vintage Borders (by Nina Brackett) to create this card: I stamped the bird with Memento black ink and colored it with Copics. I cut the bird out so I could place him on the die cut flourish. I pierced all around the border of the image and added some self adhesive nail heads to the corners.

I also used some of the new neutral buttons that Gina K is releasing this month. The blue background paper is from the digital paper pack- Vintage Holly (by Emily Giovanni).

*ETA: Sorry ya'll. Forgot to add that I stamped the bear on pure luxury white cardstock and colored it with Copic markers. I cut it out and then embossed it with clear embossing powder so it would be durable. I stamped right on the ornament with Memento ink (works fine!) and then adhered the bear and rhinestones. Hope this helps!

Our Release party will be held Thursday night over on SCS in Gina K's Forum from 7-10 pm CST. We'd love to have you join in the fun! There will be contest questions, challenges, chatter, and lots more samples from our designers throughout the party! See you then!

Sunday, October 25, 2009

Yes....I am turning into a sporadic blogger. Of course, it could be worse (smile!).......I just wanted to check in and let you know that things are fine---

Lots of things have been keeping me busier than normal:Our refrigerator died. Completely. Woke up LAST Saturday with a wet floor and the contents of the freezer defrosted.

I frantically tried to cook everything I could salvage but most of it was just way too gone----here is the stuff I didn't get to. We lost lots of food......AND we are still waiting for the part 10 days later..................grrrr! On a positive note: My refrigerator and freezer have NEVER been cleaner. My parents are in town (:)!) and my mom and I scrubbed it clean. Looks like new....too bad it doesn't work!

My son had his baseball tournament last week and the final two games were Saturday. They won (they expected to place 2nd so they were thrilled!) It was bittersweet as my husband was a coach before he left....so I called him to tell him the GREAT news.

My daughter had games/practices for Softball too.........so we have been running around.

Not much stamping time lately but the new Gina K Designs release is THIS WEEK!!!! Stay tuned for the first night of previews tomorrow night. (I will be joining in the previews on Tuesday since things have been a bit hectic around here!) Make sure you stop by Gina's blog tomorrow and hop around!!!!

Friday, October 23, 2009

Hello! Tonight I am spotlighting the sweet and AMAZING Tina Gilliland. She was one of my guest designers this month for Warm Winter Wishes........ all of her projects were beautiful, creative and fun.

Here are just a few: Gosh, I just love the pink!!!! The glittery heart just warms MY heart!

How cool! Love all the bling she added to the strips of dp! Fabulous!

Love how she stamped three mugs in a row. Love the wonderful color scheme on this one too!

I just *love* what she did with this set!!!!

Here are a few questions I asked Tina when I asked if I could feature her on my blog......

When did you start stamping?I bought my first stamp set about 12 years ago... but... I never really started stamping avidly until about 3 years ago.

How many hours a week do you stamp?On an average I stamp probably 16-20 hours a week.

What is your favorite type of cards/projects to make?

Hmmm... probably my favorite card to make are "special" cards, like... flowers and lace for graduations, birthdays, anniversaries. DEFINITELY cards with ribbons and bling!!What do you like about Gina K Designs stamps/or the company?

MOST importantly... she has EXCEPTIONAL service AND is a very giving person which I feel I relate to since I LOVE to give!!! But... her stamps are my FAVORITE because they are truly deeply etched and I never have the issue of blotch marks when I stamp (like in the middle of an image.). I truly believe they are the best on the market!!!What is your favorite stamping "toy" tool?Oh gosh... I CANNOT live without my Stamp-a-ma-jig!!! I probably use it with EVERY card! But...my Cuttlebug and Big Shot rate right up there.... again... I probably use them on every card.

Tina....thank you so much for sharing your talents with us. You KNOW I love ya!

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

It has been a really busy week here....but I managed to finish this little box pretty quickly:I picked up the box at Hobby Lobby and just covered it with some designer paper and ribbon. I thought the window at the top was the perfect place for the little snowman. Once again, I masked off the hat on the snowman before stamping.

I added some rhinestones all around the window and added a ribbon bow. This really took no time to create. And it makes a nice presentation for a special Christmas gift.

GinaK will be giving away a copy of Warm Winter Wishes on her blog tonight - so pop over there to leave your comment on her blog for your chance to win the set for free! (If you've already purchased the stamp set, we can swap it out for another GinaK stamp set valued at $19.95 or less.)

Blog Candy--Want another chance to win this set? Just leave a comment on this post by Friday night at 8 p.m. central and Random. Cara will select a winner. Subscribers can enter twice. Winner must contact me within four days to claim prize or a new winner will be chosen.

Monday, October 19, 2009

I used some paint chips I had from Pottery Barn to create this winter greeting:

I cut out each color of paint chip to fit inside the stamped border and then pieced them together on a piece of scrap paper. I embossed the snowflakes on the paint chips and then adhered them inside the stamped rectangles. The border was stamped on white cardstock and the base of the card is ivory. I did this so that the panel of snowflakes would pop off the card.

I used the sentiment from the Holiday Hospitality set because I thought it went well with this wintery card. I finished it off by adding some rhinestones and a piece of tulle.

Wanna see more?Tami Mayberry, the illustrator of these two stamp sets, has invited a couple of her friends to join in on the blog hop tonight, so click on their blog links to see the projects they've created for us tonight:

After you're done hopping to all the Designer's blogs stop by GinaK's Idea Center here: Special Delivery & Special Delivery Additionfor lots more ideas on how to use Tami's stamp sets. And, don't forget to check in on Gina K's blog so you can leave your comment to be entered as a chance to win these two stamp sets too!

Sunday, October 18, 2009

It has been awhile....too long since I have participated in a CCEE challenge.

I LOVE these gals! Today--we did double duty!You can check out the AWESOMENESS that my fellow CCEEers created HERE.

This week's (first) challenge was the CNFS challenge (Catchy Name Featured Stamper), this is where the hostess for the month picks someone over on SCS who has a catchy user name. We then have to create our card around that name and any instructions that the hostess has given us for that particular challenge. This month Tosh has selected Sparklegirl aka Silke Ledlow. I just adore Silke's beautiful clean designs. Tosh's instructions were to make a Square card, and include a girl, some sparkle, and true to Silke’s style, a lot of white space. There’s a twist too. Since her name has the word Silk in it, you must use the Faux Silk technique found on here on Splitcoast Stampers.

Here is my card-----For this card I used Flopsey's Flowers (My Favorite Things) and the (cropped) sentiment from Snow Bunny Flopsey (MFT). I stamped the bunny twice and then stamped the flower section a few more times on designer paper. I cut out the flowers to layer them in the bunny's hands and then added some more of the flowers to the grass so it looks like she is in a field of flowers. I added some crystal stickles to each of the flowers so they really sparkle.

Rules I followed:1. Make a Card for Silke with a girl on it. Yes...that rabbit is female!2. Make a square card. Well....even though every rectangle is not a square-----every square is a rectangle. In geometry, a rectangle is defined as a quadrilateral where all four of its angles are right angles. So.....I am calling this a square card! (heehee!)3. Add sparkle *check out the sparkle on all those flowers....!4. Lots of white space. Yep!

Rule I didn't follow:1. Oopsie---forgot the faux silk.

Everyone knows I can't follow that many rules.....but four out of five ain't bad! SNORT!

Our second challenge: Today is Cindy Motherway's (Mothermark) birthday and we all wanted to do something special to celebrate the occasion!As many of you may know, Cindy loves teapots and she also loves polka dots ..... so what better way to celebrate then to create a card with either or both of these items on it.Here is my card:Followed the rules on this one! Woohoo!I drew a teapot and used it as a template to create this. After I cut out my design, I used Copic markers to add shading.Then, I stamped a flower from A Year of Flowers (Gina K Designs) and colored it in...trying to mimic a decorative porcelain tea pot. I added a little tag with the sentiment from Tropical Windows (Gina K. Designs).This card opens at the top. Happy Birthday sweet CINDY! xoxo

Friday, October 16, 2009

Hi There! The kids and I are loving having some company. What a great diversion for them to have their grandparents here....and adult company is always nice for me!

Tonight, the Gina K Design team is hosting a blog hop featuring the gorgeous new set by Nina called Lord of the Season. I chose to use more funky colors for this card--to illustrate that the images do not have to be used for formal cards only! I used some of my favorite designer paper from the White Out collection (We R Memory Keepers) to paper piece the tree. I added some fun red dots for ornaments. I inked the edges of the sentiment piece to go with the pop of blue throughout the card.

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

Hi everyone! My parents just got in to town to visit so I have to keep this short and sweet.

Tonight, the Gina K team and guests are showing their creations using Theresa's beautiful new set A Very Merry Christmas. The illustrations in this set are just stunning---you can pretty much stamp the images and go....or you can have fun coloring all the amazing detail.

Here is my card I created: The bells were stamped with Memento black ink and colored with Copic markers. I used some Cosmo Cricket Jolly by Golly designer paper in the background. The card base is Pure Luxury Ivory cardstock. I used some of the beautiful red holiday ribbon to finish this card. All edges are inked with vintage photo distress ink (Ranger).

For even more ideas with Theresa Momber's A Very Merry Christmas stamp set, visit her blog link below as well as the GinaK Idea Center here: A Very Merry Christmas. Theresa's tip sheet has been added to the Idea Center as a PDF so you can print out her tips and suggestions for a handy reference tool. We've also included her Copic coloring links too.

Monday, October 12, 2009

Hello! Welcome to the Gina K Designs "Hip to be Square" hop where members of the design team and some guests of Melanie are showing off some fun creations they designed with the set.

I have to admit---I LOVE this set. I really love the cool grid background (that so resembles a window!) It makes designing a card EASY. I have so many cards I want to make with it but today I am showing you the most recent two I have designed with it.The first card combines Hip to be Square with two of Melanie's previous releases: Jumping for Joy and Inspiration Mosaic: (I apologize for the bad photo...we have been having a rainy month and I cannot get enough natural light to photograph my cards :( )

This was the first card idea I had with this set---I love how all these stamps from different sets go together so well. That sentiment is perfect. I created the moon by punching a circle shape and then just cutting away a part of it. I sponged the edges of the moon and then after I assembled the card, I colored with moon with a quickie glue pen and sprinkled Doodlebug yellow glitter on it. I punched a few white stars to add to the night sky.

I brayered the mustard ink over some pure luxury white cardstock. I stamped the grid design over it and then I stamped the haunted house over it and then again on some yellow designer paper. I cut out the moon from the yellow piece and added it over the moon on the card. I added the grid line over the moon back in with a black pen.

The sentiment from Hip to be Square fits perfectly with this spooky scene. I mounted the scene on some heavy weight pure luxury white cardstock.

Materials used: Stamps-Hip to be Square, Happy Haunting (Gina K Designs); ink-Memento black, mustard (SU!); brayer; cardstock-white (Pure luxury-Gina K Designs); oval punch (SU!); designer paper-Halloween pack (Recollections); ribbon-Harvest-Celebrate It (Michaels Stores Inc.)For even more ideas with Melanie Muenchinger's Hip to be Square stamp set, visit her blog link below as well as the GinaK Idea Center here: Hip to Square. Melanie's tip sheet has been added to the Idea Center as a PDF so you can print out her tips and suggestions for a handy reference tool!Here's all the Designer's Blog Links to check out tonight:

Sunday, October 11, 2009

Hi everyone! Thank you so much for all your emails and comments--I feel very blessed to have such a supportive network of stamping friends as well as an AMAZING family. Last week my two girls got the flu and then I had some bad asthmatic nights from all the sickness going around and the very wet conditions here. Thankfully we were all well enough in time to enjoy some time with my husband before he left.

I know we will get through the next 7 months (or so!) and I KNOW that all of your prayers and well wishes are helping. Please continue to keep my kids in your prayers as the reality slowly sets in for them.

Over the past week, I chose not to spend any time blogging but I did make a few cards while my husband was out and about and the kids were in school.

Here is a card I created for the Moxie Fab Gradient is Radiant challenge. I wanted to represent gradient color in a different way than using cardstock or ink....so the gradient part of my card is the fun sun I created with ribbons. I selected ribbons in white, yellows (3) and orange to create the sunbeams.

I used Warm Winter Wishes set from Gina K Designs on this card.....and I played off the snowman and "You melt my heart" stamps by creating a fun sun to go with them.

I chose to stamp the snowman from the set without his hat and so I just rubbed the ink off the hat after I inked the stamp up and then drew in the top of his head after I stamped. EASY. I used a piece of ribbon for his scarf (just adhering it right over the stamped scarf!)

I stamped the sentiment in two colors---easily done by inking the whole stamp in pumpkin ink and then taking a black marker and going over the "You" and "my heart" part.

Finally, I stitched the little hills for some more fun texture and added some orange stickles to his carrot nose.

Thursday, October 1, 2009

Hi everyone! I am so excited to show you Warm Winter Wishes. The set is now available at Gina K Designs----> click HERE for direct link!Blog Candy Winner: Also, I wanted to announce the winner of Warm Winter Wishes set. Random.Cara selected #8 (the number on her new softball jersey!) Congratulations to Renee V. who said..."What a wonderful tribute to your grandmother. This set is just awesome and I can't wait to see the rest of the set. Your cards are fabulous. Hugs!"

Renee...please email me your address so I can get this set in the mail to you.

Search This Blog

About Me

I have three wonderful kids and a really supportive husband!
In my spare time, I enjoy running, cardmaking, scrapbooking, creating altered items and doing anything crafty!
Thanks for checking out my blog! Come back soon!